Community raising funds to aid family of Essex restaurant owner

The community is raising funds to aid the family of Raymond Faville, an Essex restaurateur who passed away unexpectedly on July 17.

ESSEX — Donations are pouring in for the family of a local restaurant owner who died last week.

As of Tuesday, the crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe has generated $7,585 for the family of Raymond Faville, who drowned in Lake Champlain on Monday.

Faville operated Chez Lin & Rays with his wife, Linda, since 2012.

Close friends set up the campaign to defray the costs of his burial and the “loss of revenue this seasonal restaurant will incur during these peak July days while the family takes time to grieve.”

In addition to Linda, Faville leaves behind two children: Tristan and Stefan.

According to the campaign website, Ray’s “pride and joy” will reopen at the end of July.

The campaign goal is to raise $25,000 by Aug. 17, according to the campaign’s website, whose creator was identified as Rebecca Palmer of Essex.

Condolences poured in throughout the week.

A donor who identified themselves as Meghan Leah said she was glad to be given the opportunity to work for the Favilles, who were family friends.

“From the first day I arrived, I fell in love with being here and decided I never wanted to spend another summer anywhere else,” Leah wrote. “The reason for this is because Tristan’s parents, Ray and Linda, have created a magical place where everyone feels safe, welcome, and happy.”